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For many young girls in Japan currently, the image of Sanae Takaichi taking the helm as the country's inaugural woman prime minister is powerful and influential.

It means a male-oriented culture and a government structure that has historically been controlled by men is currently headed by a woman.

But while the optics speak of a progressive moment, certain females don't see her as an champion of progress.

“It was quite interesting to see how people outside Japan have reacted to the announcement,” a 21-year-old states.

“Everyone's like, ‘wow, she's the first female prime minister in the nation's past and that would be a significant chance for women empowerment and gender equality in Japan’.

In my opinion that's a rather simplistic view.”

Instead, the young woman highlights her “ideological stance and what she stands for,” adding: “She perpetuates the patriarchal system.”

A strong admirer of Britain's first female prime minister, Sanae Takaichi has long aspired to be the “Steel Magnolia” of her nation.

And like Thatcher, Takaichi is a staunch right-wing politician.

Analysts note her leadership is a strategic decision from the governing Liberal Democratic Party to appeal to the more conservative supporters which had recently gravitated towards Japan's parties further to the right.

The leader is against same-sex marriage and has long stood against laws that would permit spouses to have different last names, preventing many females from keeping their maiden names.

She's also against women being in eligible for the throne in the imperial family.

However, she did soften certain her messaging during her campaign – stating she supports giving financial benefits to businesses that provide daycare services to their staff and spoke of potential deductions for families investing in childcare.

Yet she has over the years backed the idea of a conventional role for females in the community and in the home.

When it comes to gender matters, Takaichi is consistent with her nation's subpar record on gender issues.

Japan's Gender Gap in Perspective

Women in Japan are some of the best educated and highest qualified in the globe and yet they face challenges with the demands of a conservative society that still pushes them into traditional roles.

According to the 2025 equality ranking by the World Economic Forum, Japan placed 118th out of among nearly 150 countries, with women's presence in the political arena notably low.

Top roles have historically been held by males and Japan has faced difficulties to boost the quantity of female lawmakers and business leaders.

The globally fourth biggest economic power places at the bottom among the Group of Seven nations when it comes to the share of women in its legislative body. In detail, females constitute about less than 16% of lawmakers in Japan, the smallest proportion among the seven major economies.

It is even slow when it comes to female healthcare: recently was it announced that the “emergency” pill – a form of post-coital birth control available without prescription in over ninety countries – had at last been authorized for non-prescription sales in Japan.

Mixed Responses to the Landmark Leadership

Even so, certain individuals view Takaichi's rise to power as a pivotal moment that could change how females view their opportunities.

“There is great significance in Ms Takaichi becoming prime minister, with a broader impact on society,” a former mayor – who was elected as the country's youngest female mayor in 2012 – informed local media.

Koshi argued Japan having a woman prime minister will “lower mental obstacles” for women and girls, enabling them to believe it is acceptable to “stand out” as authorities in businesses and the community, despite biased expectations and expectations still persist.

But a 20-year-old points out that, while it is notable Japan has its first female leader, it is important to recall it required her over three decades to get to that position.

“She's also not really challenging the norm. She expresses the same thing as the male politicians.”

The young woman adds that she shouldn't be put on a pedestal simply because she is a female.

“We need to ensure we're talking about her policies. We must be able to evaluate her equally as everyone else.”

Ideological Context and Influences

It is not just what Takaichi has said which has caused individuals to describe her as a supporter of the patriarchy.

Additionally, it is apparent by which individuals her champions within the LDP have were.

She's the protégé of the deceased former hawkish prime minister a previous leader, and was endorsed in the leadership election by a senior politician – a senior figure in the ruling party at the head of one of the ruling party's most influential conservative blocs.

Their group's backing for Sanae Takaichi was crucial in consolidating the party's right wing behind her.

“I do feel that it is challenging for females to somewhat identify with her success because it promotes this idea that we have to be compliant with the existing system,” young adult a citizen says.

The 21-year-old agrees, stating that with her as a figurehead for women in politics, “the public are going to expect the identical from us as well”.

“They're going to expect women to be conforming, not oppose the ideals that they hold, and it might make our job harder.”

Upcoming Challenges and Expectations

Achieving this milestone, however, was just the first of the difficulties Takaichi will face – not least tackling a slow growth and rising prices and regaining the trust of a discontented and angry voting public, as in addition to welcoming the US leader within days of taking power.

It's safe to say that few anticipate women's rights matters to be a top priority on her priority list.